Trenton, NJ - Governor Phil Murphy signed the Hunger Free Students’ Bill of Rights Act for to help students who are having trouble paying for school lunches in New Jersey on Monday.

The bill prevents school districts from taking action against students that cannot fully pay for their lunch meals, like denying meals or publicly identifying them in an act they called “lunch shaming”.

“We have an obligation to ensure that our schools are safe, nurturing environments for our students and maximize the reach of beneficial programs. No child deserves to be shamed over school lunch debt," Gov. Murphy said.

It also requires a liaison for homeless students to ensure that these students receive free meals.

“I find it totally unacceptable that children, whose families may be struggling to pay for any number of reasons, are being singled out,” said Assemblywoman Angela Knight, “Taking a meal away from a child, forcing them to sit at a particular table or stand at the back of the lunch line, withholding grades and barring them from school trips or even prom hinders productive learning. It’s bullying and in no way appropriate.”